Red Sox Game 75 (2-1 L/10 @ OAK) Reloaded

There are only so many consecutive days where I can point out the abject futility of the Red Sox offense, and the increasingly complex mathematics and stretches of reason needed to think this team has a shot at the playoffs. So here’s a couple other things worth remembering from Saturday’s loss.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is a stupendous outfielder. However, he misplayed this ball from a double into a triple, and that ended up costing the Sox a run. If this ball doesn’t bound over his head, Stephen Vogt is on second base. He gets to third (instead of scoring) when Brock Holt makes his tremendous diving catch in right center, then withers there when Alberto Callaspo and Coco Crisp both strike out.

When your offense is only going to provide one run in 10 innings, that stuff really matters. Never mind when this is ultimately how that one run gets scored:

“Fly balls or line drives fielded by a defensive player in the infield shall not be eligible for review.”

That’s as close as that play comes to being referred to in the “Reviewable Plays” section, which outlines everything that can be reviewed under the system.

The break went the Red Sox way here, but it’s stupendously — there’s that word again! — ridiculous this call couldn’t be challenged. I don’t think anyone would debate the before-the-season claims that replay is a work in progress. Here’s hoping that work keeps going in the right direction.

And here’s hoping that the next time the Red Sox starters go 10 straight games allowing three runs or fewer — nine starts of at least six innings, plus Felix Doubront‘s 4 2/3-inning one on Friday — the team finds a way to go better than 5-5.

I’ll keep it brief, but Rubby De La Rosa on Saturday? Got a well-disciplined A’s team — second-lowest percentage of swings outside the zone — to chase 11 of the 19 changeups he threw outside the strike zone (per Inside Edge) and got eight swings-and-misses. (Notably, all eight against right-handers.) Lot of fly-ball contact, but one run in seven innings? Good day. In a vacuum, worth another start, even if Sox choose not to give him one at the moment.

OK, ONE QUOTABLE ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Dustin Pedroia, on the Red Sox continued problems with runners in scoring position; they’re in a 4-for-48 skid: “I think we’re trying too hard. The saying is, ‘Let the game come to you.’ You have at-bats in big situations, sometimes they make pitches on you, but sometimes when you get pitches to hit, you’re looking for their best location instead of just relaxing and putting a good at-bat together.”

For all of June, the Red Sox are 26-for-148 (.176) with runners in scoring position. Who has the most of those opportunities? David Ortiz (25 — 5-for-21, 4 BB, 9 RBI), Pedroia (20 — 3-for-17, BB, 2 SF, 7 RBI), and Xander Bogaerts (20 — 0-for-18, BB, SF, 1 RBI).

We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or fill out this form.

Blog Author

Jon Couture

Jon Couture has been covering the Red Sox for The Standard-Times since the 2003 playoffs, when management asked him the odd question, "Would you like to go to New York to cover the first two games of the ALCS?" Though he missed the memorable Don ... Read Full